Unrequited

Haiku of failure

Unrequited love;

God’s for Israel. Little

wonder that God weeps.

Prophet Hosea

brings the word of God’s anguish

along with judgement.

They went their own way,

ignoring the call of God

for justice and truth.

Profound love imaged

in the tender embracing

of parent with child.

This is a strange God,

feeling rejection; needy

and so capricious!

The anger; is it

because of faithlessness, or

the failure to love?

God’s recoiling heart,

refusing harsh punishment;

the power of love.

Judgement is forestalled!

The God of second-chances,

the God we worship.

Return, O people!

God who balances justice

with mercy awaits.

© Ken Rookes 2022